Chapter 4: Menos-2

Alan Hunson, the second scion of Yoshbore City Earl Rudolph Hunson, was reportedly frequently spotted departing his manor, engaging in hunting and ensnaring wind slimes within the enigmatic confines of the Dusk Forest.

One day, Alan disappeared from Yoshbore City, and after his mysterious escape, mutant wind slimes began encroaching upon the outskirts of the city, their nefarious influence extending like a shadow over the land.

These mutant wind slimes exhibited a discernible biological divergence in their DNA. Unverified speculations insinuated Alan's complicity in orchestrating this bizarre turn of events.

The mutant slimes, larger and more formidable, unleashed a relentless fury, becoming predatory marauders with unparalleled swiftness.

Lucrative quests were formed for eradicating these menacing slimes, enticing a multitude of intrepid adventurers and a diverse array of individuals ready to confront the ever-growing threat.

Upon learning of the turmoil from nearby villages, I felt compelled to journey to Yoshbore City.

Accidentally, when I crossed paths with Gilhen and Klaire, because I didn't trust them, I fabricated a tale about my impending trip to Yoshbore City, concealing the fact that I had already been there for a week, undertaking quests of the mutant wind slimes.

Admittingly, the less flattering reality of my residence beneath the Ebon Root Tree was a financial constraint that as I didn't have money to stay in an inn, and that, I preferred not to divulge to them.

___________

The Adventurer guild building stands in the main district of Yoshbore city as a formidable and prominent hub for adventurers.

Inside it, the air resonates with the invigorating scent of adventurers echoing the lively spirit that permeates the atmosphere.

Many were busy selecting quests, selling or submitting their hunts, while some others engaged in lively conversations, discussing current affairs and sharing tales of their adventures while enjoying drinks.

Over a table, four adventurers were chatting as they drank ale and discussed the goblin frenzy in Birmin Village.

"I was there, man. Gobs were swarmin' everywhere, but thank the stars, that C-rank party rolled in and saved our hides," the wasted adventurer blabbed between sips.

"Hell yeah, that Shadow Reaper, Gilhen, and the Little Witch Klaire? Straight-up beasts, bro. Sliced through gobs like butter," his buddy chimed in.

A Scar face man sighs and butted in, "Wish I caught that action."

"Even if you were there, what you gonna do against a Goblin army, huh? We lucked out with Shadow Reaper yesterday, or we'd be chillin' in the infirmary or pushin' up daisies," the last one mocked.

Scarface bit his tongue, and said, "I could wipe the floor…." Scar-face fell silent before he could finish speaking as his friend's attention shifted towards the entrance where a boy had just arrived.

The boy wore a distinctive vertically split mask in white and black, complemented by brown leather gear. At his hips, a sword and a red wand added to his intriguing ensemble.

Scarface grinned as he saw that boy, walking towards him he said,"Where have you been, Mask? It's been five days! Thought you were dead."

. . .

After I had patiently waited in the Teleportation Faculty for bidding farewell to Gilhen and Klaire the day was nearing to end soon.

Though it's not the optimal hour for embarking on a quest, my time with Klaire and Gilhen had consumed my valuable time. Eager to compensate for the wasted time I was ready to take on some quest.

The adventurer here knew me as White, my alias when I had my mask on. Upon entering the Guild Building, familiar faces from my recent exploits against Mutant Slimes greeted me.

After exchanging pleasantries and witty banter, my focus shifted to the task at hand – securing a new quest.

After standing in the queue, I found myself ready to present my quest parchment to the receptionist.

Observing my choice of a goblin subjugation quest, she inquired about it "Oh! So you're now taking on a quest to deal with goblins?",

She asks that possibly out of concern or curiosity, given my previous quests involving killing rats and sewer slime.

I answered "Yes, I've grown a bit stronger lately. Those sewer slimes and rats are no challenge for me."

Observing that the quest entailed the elimination of a lone wandering goblin in a village, the receptionist smoothly requested my adventurer ID.

Even considering the possibility that other travelers might have killed the feeble goblin before me, I merely needed to provide its ear and also the proof of its death and I would get the quest rewards, it was a good quest to say the least

Upon taking my adventurer ID—a rectangular green card—the receptionist deftly inserted it into a red cube device in her desk.

With a registration book on the desk and a quill adorned with mystical runes in hand, the receptionist meticulously transcribed, presumably, both my details and the specifics of the chosen quest.

The cube housing my ID emitted a sudden azure glow upon the completion of her writing.

Returning my green card with a congenial smile, the receptionist conveyed confidence in my capabilities to fulfill the quest.

After taking a look at the back of my Id card, I saw the "Killing A Wandering Goblin Quest" written on top which refers to the quest that I had to do.

The method for quest registration has been easy and modernized, courtesy of the Adventurer Guild's Rune technological advancements and also with the praiseworthy Id card .

The ID card made from adventurine is a very useful mineral that can change color and display words based on runic alterations on the card.

The front side of the card featured personal details and a profile picture, while the back listed the current quests in progress.

The guild also supports anonymous Id which allows individuals to create multiple IDs like I do as I possessed both my authentic identity and an alias ID.

__________

Deep within the Dusk Forest;

I found myself encircled by four menacing Goblins. These sinister, dark-green creatures that bore the same body stature as me fixated their ruby eyes on me with a dangerous intent.

The foremost sporting a cheeky grin and brandishing a dagger, lunged towards me.

Maintaining a steadfast stance with a steel sword in hand, I waited until the creature was a mere meter away before executing a swift swing.

The once-grinning goblin crumpled to the forest floor, its dagger poised for a strike now rendered useless as my lethal blow severed its upper body from its abdomen.

The remaining goblins, initially poised to flank me, froze in hesitation at the unexpected demise of their comrade.

Seizing the opportunity, I swung my blade through the air, conjuring an invisible crescent wind blade that arced toward another goblin cleaving it from its left shoulder and slicing diagonally across its body to the right side of its stomach.

A spray of green blood and a horrifying shriek filled the air as the goblin's life was abruptly and gruesomely extinguished.

The remaining goblins, panic-stricken, attempted to flee, but I swiftly turned, executing a reverse swing that conjured another sharp wind blade that sliced through the air, swiftly dispatching another goblin before it could escape.

With only three desperate steps, the last goblin met its fate as I unleashed yet another wind blade, cleaving it in half.

This technique is known as [Air Slash], it is a basic sword technique that is infused with the power of wind elements—a skill achievable through precise control and ample mana supply.

'Before, I had feigned inability to execute an [Air Slash], because I wanted to conceal my true capabilities from Klaire and Gilhen, as there is a saying that said to keep your cards close to your chest.'

As the battle subsided, exhaustion overcame me.

As I had executed [Air slash] four times my mana reserves were nearly depleted and the toll on my body was extremely evident.

My body felt like lead, and my hands were numb, I barely could stand as I leaned on my sword for stability.

Mastering [Air slash] demanded more than just mana however. It requires harnessing the internal energy known as chi, chi helps one to fortify muscles and also ease the pain of overusing mana.

"I haven't mastered this technique well," I wheezed, my voice barely audible amidst the fatigue that consumed me.

_ _ _

As the sun neared the horizon, my journey in Dusk Forest had finally led me to fruition as I discovered a mutant wind slime in front of me. My mouth underneath the mask smile as I walk near the slime.

With a white and light green cottony hide which was different from the usual gelatinous form, the slime was idly staying still. Its size, which was larger than the typical slimes reaching up to my waist.

Abruptly, the slime became aware of my presence as I approached nearer, its eyes, absent in regular wind slimes, narrowed in anger and it bounced towards me, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

I swiftly evaded its tackle, but the slime showed no signs of relenting. It puffed up its body like a balloon and as it blew the air inside its body, it released a crescent wind blade.

As the mutant slime unleashed an [Air Slash] from its mouth, I responded with my own [Air slash]. Yet, my technique proved feeble to the much larger wind blades of the mutant slimes.

The wind blades hurtled toward me with incredible speed. Thankfully, I anticipated it and managed to evade in the nick of time.

The mutant slime celebrated its victory with joyful bounces, seeing its win.

Though I had informed the receptionist that I was going to deal with the Goblin problem, my true goal was to encounter a wind slime mutant and observe it as it unleash an [Air slash].

My departure to Edantis with Gilhen was certain but the mutant slime abilities to conjure [Air slash] intrigued me so I stayed here intending to learn the best version of [Air slash].

[Air Slash] is considered a basic sword technique, and many believed it to be of limited use beyond the early stages of training as they opt to use advanced technique to crush their enemy.

However, my special constitution that granted me the ability to perceive the flow of mana allows me to observe that despite [Air Slash] being deemed basic.

The mutant executed it with minimal strain and maximum efficiency and it drew my curiosity to learn this technique too.

The mutant wind slimes stop bouncing as it puffs up its body once more as it prepares for another [Air Slash].

This time, I reached for the wand Gilhen had given me and began to incant, "By the fusion of heart and soul, let earth forces soar as I wield it with grace, [Mud Shot]."

As I chanted, a magic circle materialized at the tip of the wand. A mud projectile, then launched as it collided with the oncoming [Air Slash], canceling it out.

I stood there dazed, forgetting to flee, having not expected that [Mud Shot] possessed the ability to neutralize the mutant's [Air Slash]. The mutant slime too seemed surprised, as its eyes widened.

I dumbfoundedly gazed at the wand in my hand, I hadn't noticed the design before but as I look at it properly it seems to be a very elegant wand.

It has a cylindrical tube brown handle and blood reddish shaft, adorned with a zig-zag pattern near the tip, where a light blue crystal gleamed.

The mutant slime, meanwhile, had puffed up even larger than before.

'That's it bitch, get serious' I inwardly rejoice.

I could sense that the slime had aligned its essence with the essence of wind mana in the surrounding, I was elated as this allows me to glimpse at a possible breakthrough.

As I observe this marvelous spectacle, I too cast the [Mud shot] again, this time infusing it with even more mana.

My spell and the mutant slime's [Air Slash] collided once more, cancelling each other out in a display of magical prowess.

In an enduring clash, the mutant wind slime persistently unleashed [Air Slash], alternating with tackles in moments of mana strain.

I evaded the slime attacks, countering with timely [Mud Shots] also drinking potions to relieve my fatigue.

Drawing out the skirmish for well over an hour, I exploited the relentless endurance of the slime until its movements gradually waned from sheer exhaustion. With precision, I cleaved my sword through its cotton-like exterior, laying bare the jelly interior that exuded a viscous and adhesive mucus.

The culmination of the prolonged battle unveiled the intriguing, albeit somewhat grotesque, anatomy of the defeated adversary.

Imbibing yet another mana potion, I experienced an instantaneous revitalization, feeling the surge of energy replenishing my previously drained mana. The remarkable feat of the slime enduring over an hour without the aid of any potions underscored its extraordinary resilience.

Out of nowhere, my ebony slime companion, Blacky, materialized beside me, offering a lemon-colored gemstone.

I accepted it, remarking, "Just what I need." Cradling the stone, I assumed a lotus position, delving into meditation.

The lemon-colored gem, a chi stone, worked its magic, rejuvenating my vital energy and alleviating the fatigue incurred from the intense battle with the mutant slime.

Subsequently, I sought a wind core from Blacky, prompting the slime to conjure an emerald round stone upon its sleek, black jelly form.

Embracing the emerald stone, I resumed my meditation, enveloped in a verdant aura that deepened my connection with the essence of wind mana.

In the midst of my meditative trance, I delved into the nuances of the mutant wind slime's executing an [Air Slash], meticulously retracing its adept mana utilization and the seamless fluidity inherent in the technique.

Striving to emulate this refined mana flow, I immersed myself a full 15 minutes in meditation, but an abrupt disruption signaled the unraveling of my concentration.

The source of my distraction lay not in external forces but rather in my intrinsically less calm nature as I couldn't meditate for long.

Opening my eyes, I rose from my seated position, going beside a sturdy tree. With my trusty steel sword in hand, I harnessed the essence of the technique and unleashed an [Air Slash].

The invincible crescent moon wind blade effortlessly bisected the tree, surpassing previous triumphs against goblins before. Despite this, I yearned for a better refined mana control.

I lacked the grace of inherent talent; a perpetual barrage of distracting thoughts always marred my meditation, hindering focus in my training.

Nevertheless, I clung to the belief in incremental mastery through the repetition of movements. A commitment to honing muscle memory, achieving flawless execution for any technique, transcending the hurdles posed by my low talent.

'It's boring but, I guess I have to continue finding mutant slimes again tomorrow."

With the resolve to find another mutant wind slime tomorrow I approached the dead creature and retrieved the mutant slime core, it is a similar looking round emerald stone that Blacky had given me before.

I also took a dark green jelly which was its essence.

When I near the slime core and essence near Blacky, they suddenly vanished in thin air.

Blacky is my unique space slime summon and not a familiar. Familiars are like pets, at best they have the ability to communicate mentally, however a summon can grow stronger together with its Master soul essence.

Also unlike any ordinary slimes in Agrasia, Blacky possessed a special space attribute, granting him a private pocket dimensional storage space and teleportation ability, with the prospect that him would grow more stronger.

My name is Menos, a reincarnated being and just like any reincarnated person in an isekai story, I possessed a cheat skill which is, a summoner that can change and amplify my summons attribute.